Crystals are objects or solid materials that are formed from atoms and molecules that are arranged in a very orderly fashion. This internal structure makes crystals unique from each other but the arrangement of the small components are very specific and recognizable when viewed under a microscope. With the highly arranged components of crystals, these […]

Cap and trade is a method or approach used to control greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions are the primary cause of global warming. The cap and trade operates by putting a “cap” and by creating “trade”. There is a cap or ceiling on the allowable emissions. The goal is to lower the cap over time […]

Germination is the process by which a seed grows into plant. In botany and gardening, it is used to reproduce certain genre of plants. It also refers to the process of growing plants through seeding or sprouting. Unlike other process, it is considered as the most natural process of growing plants. Some plants can germinate […]

Greenhouse Effect is the result when harmful gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, nitrous oxide (N20), andozone, and fluorinated gases are trapped in the earth’s surface, causing temperature to rise. When the greenhouse gases are ensnared in the atmosphere, it allows the sun’s short wavelength radiation to get through the earth, therefore causing global […]

Igneous rock is one of the three major types of rocks formed through the solidification of molten rock or magma. The other types of rocks are the sedimentary rock and metamorphic rock. Unlike the two, igneous rock may be form even without crystallization. The history of igneous rock can be traced back to the Roman […]

Leap year refers to a year that has an extra day or month. Leap year is also known as a bissextile or an intercalary year. A leap year such as in the lunisolar calendar has an additional month because it needs to be synchronized with the seasonal or astronomical year. Since astronomical events and seasons […]

Luster is a term used to describe the overall sheen of a mineral’s surface. The sheen of a mineral may be similar to that of a polished metal as well as that of a metal that is unpolished and pitted by tear and wear. Minerals may also have sheens similar to glass or earthy, dull […]

A coral is a type of an animal that lives underwater. It belongs to the family of phylum cnidaria, a group used by scientists to refer to animals that share the same characteristics. Because of its colorful nature, it is often mistaken as a plant. It comes in a wide array of species and is […]

Barometric pressure refers to the weight of air that presses on the earth. Barometric pressure is also referred to as air pressure. When the barometric pressure is low, it is an indication of rising weight of overlying air and high barometric pressure implies reducing weight of overlying air. Barometric pressure has a significant effect on […]

LPG is the short version of Liquefied Petroleum Gas. LPG is an altered chemical compound of natural gas though LPG and natural gas are both hydrocarbons. LPG is made up of propane, which has 8 hydrogen atoms and 3 carbon atoms, and butane, which has 10 hydrogen atoms and 4 carbon atoms. When a comparison […]

GLA is an abbreviation for gamma-linoleic acid. GLA is an omega-6 fatty acid found mainly in plant-based oils like oils in borage seeds, evening primrose and black currant seeds. Omega-6 fats are regarded as crucial fatty acids. They are important in the health of human beings but are not generated by the body. Instead, these […]

Evaporation refers to the process through which water transforms from liquid form to vapor of gas. It is the only way that water changes from liquid form so it can get back to water cycle in the atmosphere as vapor. Studies show seas, rivers, lakes and oceans contribute an estimated 90% of atmospheric moisture through […]

Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) a technology used by industrial plants to inhibit the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Instead of allowing them to escape, industrial plants compress the carbon dioxide and inject them into a rock formation in the core of the earth where it is permanently stored. Another role of CCS is […]

Budding is a type of asexual reproduction wherein one organism reproduces another from a single cell division. The offspring is generally identical to the source and is not separated from the parent organism. Budding in plants is also known as vegetative propagation or grafting. It is a common method used by gardeners or botanists to […]

Lead is a metal element that has the atomic number of 82. Its symbol came from the Latin word for waterworks, plumbum. Lead is naturally found of the earth’s crust in small quantity and comes within an ore together with silver, zinc or copper. Due to its abundance and malleability, Lead has been used in […]

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that can naturally be found across the globe including the US, Canada, China, and Brazil among others. This mineral used to be one of the most sought-after minerals by various industries because of its high durability and fire-resistant properties. In the construction industry, asbestos was often mixed with cement to […]

An aquifer refers to an underground layer of porous and permeable rock and other materials. This layer beneath the Earth’s surface allows groundwater to pass through various pores and small passages that are created by so-called unconsolidated materials. Groundwater that is present in aquifers exist because of the porous and permeable nature of the rocks, […]

Khat is a flowering shrub that can be found in parts of East Africa and southern parts of the Arabian Peninsula. In many parts of the world, this plant is considered an illegal substance because of its cathinone and cathine content. These substances are known psychoactive ingredients and may cause stimulation of the brain particularly […]

Khat is a flowering shrub that can be found in parts of East Africa and southern parts of the Arabian Peninsula. In many parts of the world, this plant is considered an illegal substance because of its cathinone and cathine content. These substances are known psychoactive ingredients and may cause stimulation of the brain particularly […]

Flex fuel is short for flexible fuel and it refers to a blend of standard gasoline and other fuels like methanol or ethanol to power a car or automobile. Most vehicles in the world today are equipped with engines that run on pure gasoline only. With flex fuel, car engines are said to be better […]

Typhoons are violent storms that occur in tropical areas particularly within the Pacific Ocean. Many of the world’s deadliest and violent storms originate from the Pacific Ocean. The North-western part is considered to be the area where many typhoons originate. In many parts of South East Asia and Japan, violent storms are named or classified […]

CTW stands for “carat total weight” and is applied to the actual carat weight of several pieces of diamonds like those found in a jewelry piece. A necklace for example that has 10 diamond pieces may be labelled to have a specific CTW or carat total weight value. This value simply refers to the total […]

Ammonification is a process that is part of the Nitrogen cycle wherein ammonia is produced. This process is especially beneficial to the agriculture industry as the ammonia will help keep the soil fertile and healthy. With the presence of ammonia, the soil is said to be more organic and healthier with the help of other […]

Global warming is one aspect of climate change that involves rising temperatures in various regions of the world. Data from the past are literally compared with that of the present and experts have pointed out that the overall temperature of the whole planet is rising and this is said to have significantly altered the weather […]

House music is the music that people enjoy in various clubs in present times especially in the US. This type of music is said to have been derived from the famous disco music of the 70s and 80s but now modernized to become an electronic type of dance music. For many people, house music is […]

Fucus vesiculosus is the scientific name for a type of seaweed called bladder wrack. This seaweed can commonly be found in oceans of various countries in the Northern hemisphere. Bladder wrack seaweed is also referred to as rockweed, black tang, red fucus, or sea oak in various parts of the world where they can be […]

A gyre is a spiral or vortex of wind. It is the circular movement of currents in the ocean basin. Its movement is in the anti-clockwise direction in the southern hemisphere and clockwise direction in the northern hemisphere. Gyre is an important term in oceanography. Gyres can be caused by a number of reasons; one […]

Drusy or druzy refers to the fine crystal coating that can commonly be found in various gemstones and jewelry pieces. Geologically, the term “druse” is used when there are fine crystals that cover certain rocks or form at the core or near the veins. When these crystal-enveloped rocks are seen, they are often referred to […]

What is MYKE? MYKE is a brand of various fertilizer and plant growth enhancing products that uses only natural ingredients. All its products are classified as non-toxic and safe to the environment. The whole product line under the MYKE brand has also gained approval and certification from the US Department of Agriculture and the Canadian […]

Pyrite is a mineral that is often mistaken by many miners as gold. It is usually found with a yellowish hue and has a metallic shine to it which is why some people think of it as gold. Because of this reputation, this iron sulfide mineral is also referred to as “fool’s gold.” As a […]

What is LME? LME or Large Marine Ecosystems are literally huge areas in coastal regions and oceans across the globe that reaches about 200,000 square kilometres. These areas are basically classified as such to give them distinction of their hydrography, population, and diversity. LMEs are also classified for conservation purposes. The classification system behind LMEs […]

What is Atmosphere? An atmosphere refers to the blanket-like layer of gaseous materials that surrounds a celestial body like the Earth. It represents a layer of air that is maintained by a celestial body because of its gravitational force. In layman’s terms, the atmosphere pertains to the air or the climate of a particular area […]

What are Lupins? Lupins are plants that belong to the Fabaceae legume family. This particular plant is said to have about 280 species and varieties with much of them found in the southern and western parts of the North American continent. It is said to be cultivated as early as 2000 years ago with probable […]

What is Environmental Sustainability? Environmental Sustainability refers to actions and/or projects done by people that can be performed or done continuously or for long periods of time with little or no adverse impact to the environment. This is the typical “mantra” of various environmental groups all over the world not only to protect resources for […]

What is Biodiversity? When we say biodiversity, it actually refers to the genetic make up of the varied species living in a certain community. It allows everyone to live together and make use of each other, either positively or “selfishly”. To make things simpler, biodiversity allows life to strive and continue. Without biodiversity, one will […]

What is Watershed? A watershed is a piece of land where water drains off of it and goes into the same place. Watersheds come in a bunch of different forms and sizes. Just in the United States alone there are more than two thousand different water sheds. In North America a watershed is known as […]

What is Coal made of? Coal is made from trees or plants that decayed on the ground for millions of years. The remains of various plants and trees then mixed with the other components of the ground and eventually going through several natural processes making them more like solid rocks. Over time, the plant remains […]

What is a LTU? LTU or Land Treatment Units are basically locations wherein the land is treated to reduce its toxic contents. Typically hazardous wastes are dumped and incorporated in these land areas to degrade over a period of time. The typical process involved in handling bio-hazard wastes is called bioremediation. This process involves the […]

What is Hoar Frost? Frost is defined by many as the deposit of small ice crystals that form whenever water vapor is condensed at a temperature below freezing point. It happens whenever a solid surface freezes below the dew point of the air that surrounds it, and the surface becomes colder than freezing point, making […]

What is Myrtle? Myrtle is an aromatic evergreen shrub coming from the genus Myrtus. It is also called a tree because it could grow up to 15 feet. Much of myrtle can be seen in the Mediterranean area, particularly the southern parts of Europe and northern Africa. Myrtle shrubs also grow flowers and berries especially […]

What is Global Climate Change? A remarkable change in the temperature of the Earth is commonly known as global climate change. Over time, people experience extreme change in climate. A little alteration in temperature may cause extensive impact on the organisms living on Earth. A sudden drop or increase in the Earth’s temperature, no matter […]

What is Kelp? Kelp is a seaweed usually found in the shallow and cooler parts of the seas. It grows rapidly into thick-like vegetation underwater, resulting to the term “kelp forest”. It can be found almost anywhere in the world, usually around coastal waters. They are said to need some form of sunlight for photosynthesis; […]

What is Recycling? Recycling is the process of re-using products that already served its purpose. It basically involves a three-part cycle of collection of materials considered as waste, manufacture of these materials into new items, and the re-use of these new items a.k.a. recycled items. Recycling can be done by anyone and usually the purpose […]

What is a Joshua Tree? Joshua trees are trees that grow in America’s Southwest region, particularly in the Mojave Desert. It comes from the genus “yucca” and species “brevifolia”, so many also call it “yucca tree”. It is said to be the largest in the “yucca” genus and usually grows up to 49-feet tall. The […]

What is Bermuda Grass? Bermuda grass is a grass or weed that originally came from African savannas, but can be found mostly in dry and warmer countries of the world. Sometimes bermuda grass is called Bahama grass, couch grass in Australia and Africa, wire grass, or devil’s grass in India. This particular grass was introduced […]

What is Cypress? Cypress is an evergreen tree that is native to the Northern hemisphere though currently found in almost all parts of the world. The cypress plant belongs to the Cupressaceae family and is a conifer. There are a number of species of cypress with most of the being trees while a few are […]

What is Air made of? Atmosphere is the covering of the earth which protects it from all harmful radiations. It is made up of five different layers of gases and held together by means of gravity. It also plays a role in maintenance of the temperature on the planet. The variety of gases present in […]

What is Atmospheric Pressure? Atmospheric pressure is a force of a weight of air applied to a surface below it. In simple terms, atmospheric pressure is also the same as air pressure. To imagine clearly, what atmospheric pressure is, simply think of a force in the atmosphere that is applied to a specific area. A […]

What is Hurricane Season? Hurricanes refer to tropical cyclones that occur over the Atlantic Ocean. They are the same as “typhoons”, which is the term used for cyclones that form in the Pacific Ocean. In other areas or parts of the world, these violent storms are simply called cyclones with variations according to wind speed. […]

What is Natural Selection? There is no doubt that the world has changed ever since it came into being. Whether it came from by creation or through the other theories that are advanced, the world is definitely a very different place from its first day of existence. There have been millions of different species that […]

What Is Earth Science? Earth Science is the study of our planet and our neighbors in space. Knowledge of the earth is important as it may lead to discoveries of new energy sources. It may also help predict weather and climate patterns that affect the entire planet. Many branches of science are used to study […]

Over the last few decades, there have been two very serious concerns as regards the way we power our economies. The first and most sever has been the environmental issue. Pollution has steadily increased and is today one of the leading threats to the future of the planet earth and everything that lives in it. […]

﻿﻿What is Polar Amplification? Polar amplification is a climate term which means that climate change is happening faster and is more pronounced in the North Pole or the Arctic faster than anywhere else in the world. Polar amplification is caused by a number of things, and it only applies to the North Pole because the […]

Geography is the study of the Earth, its physical properties, its orientation, places, landscape, environment and people. The term “geography” was first used by Greek scholar Eratosthenes at around 200 BC. Eratosthenes, known as the father of geography, was also the first to study the Earth in the geographic sense as we know it today. […]

What is Composting? The process of composting is the breaking down of organic wastes by adding it to soil and letting it sit for at least a year. Composting can be as easy as just digging then dumping organic waste and covering it with soil then letting it sit. But there is also a multi-step […]

What is Hurricane? A hurricane, also called a tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a low pressure center. This spiral mass of clouds originate from warm waters near the equator and gradually gather force as it moves. It moves at a speed of at least 74 miles per second or 119 km per […]

What is Ecology? – An Introduction Ecology came from the words eco, which means “house” and logy, which means, “study of”. Ecology is defined as a scientific study of living organisms and their relation with each other and their environment. A German scientist named Ernst Haeckel coined the word ecology. Haeckel is not just a […]

In the recent past there have been a number of high level meeting called to address the impacts of human activity on the environment. The most serious of these impacts is global warming. Over the years man has engaged in activities that have led to the depletion of the ozone layer and a high concentration […]

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